Trafford's population increased by about 16,400 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.
The population reached nearly 230,000
In the decade to 2011, the population of Trafford increased by 7.8%, from just over 210,000 to 227,000.
The addition of about 16,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).
In 2011, Trafford was home to, on average, 15 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.
Population density was higher than the average across the North West
Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)
- Rest of the North West
- Trafford
- Average across England
An older Trafford
Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.
Between the last two censuses, the median age of Trafford increased by one year, from 38 to 39 years.
This area had a slightly higher average age than the North West and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).
The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 6,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.
About 16.0% of people in Trafford are aged between 40 and 49 years
Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Trafford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Trafford stood out from other areas for children
The percentage of households without children fell in Trafford, while rising across the North West.
In Trafford, the proportion came down from 60.7% in 2001 to 58.2% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 59.3% to 60.8%.
The proportion of households with children in Trafford increased from 29.4% to 31.5%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.9% to 10.3%.
The proportion of households without children was lower than across the North West
Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011
- Rest of the North West
- Trafford
- Average across England
Relationships in Trafford
The proportion of married people fell in Trafford, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North West.
Every local authority area across the North West saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 49.8% to 45.0%.
During this period, Trafford went from having the 26th-highest to the 14th-highest percentage of married people out of 309 English local authority areas.
The proportion of married people was higher than across the North West
Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011
- Rest of the North West
- Trafford
- Average across England
Trafford stood out from other areas for one-person households
The percentage of one-person households fell here, while rising across the North West.
In Trafford, the proportion came down from 31.6% in 2001 to 29.8% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 30.9% to 32.2%.
The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Trafford increased from 7.8% to 9.6%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 36.5% to 35.3%.
The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the North West
Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011
- Rest of the North West
- Trafford
- Average across England
Disability in Trafford
The percentage of Trafford residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.0% to 3.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.
The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.2%, while the percentage of Trafford residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89.6%.
The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.7% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.
The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West
Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Religion in Trafford
The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Trafford was among those who said they had no religion, rising 9.8 points.
In 2011, 22.6% of respondents in Trafford gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 12.8% of those who answered in 2001.
Across the North West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.3% to 21.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.
Of those who disclosed their religion in Trafford, 67.7% said they were Christian, compared with 81.0% in 2001. About 0.8% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.5% 10 years prior.
The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 6.4% to 6.3%.
In Trafford, 6.3% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.4% in 2001. In North West, 6.2% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.
Read the full bulletin on the latest census data on religionthe population without a religion in Trafford increased by 9.8 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and Trafford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Health improved
The percentage of Trafford residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.0% to 5.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.
Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.
In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82.6%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69.9% in 2001. The percentage of Trafford residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.2% to 12.2%.
The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.
These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.
The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Trafford decreased by 3.8 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents in Trafford, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Rise in private renting
The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Trafford, but at a slower rate than in Salford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Trafford).
In Trafford, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.9% in 2001 to 12.7% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Salford increased from 8.8% to 18.8%.
Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15.4%.
The rate of social housing in Trafford fell from 16.8% to 16.4%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 71.9% to 69.3%.
Private renting in Trafford increased by 3.8 percentage points
Percentage of households in Trafford, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Ethnicity in Trafford
In 2011, 7.9% of Trafford residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 4.6% in 2001.
Across the North West, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 3.8% to 6.2%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.
Around 85.6% of people in Trafford said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 91.6% in 2001. About 2.9% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 2.0% 10 years prior.
The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 1.5% to 2.7%.
Read the full bulletin on the latest census data on ethnicitythe population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Trafford increased by 3.3 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Trafford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Fewer people worked long hours
The percentage of employed people in Trafford working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 11.7% to 8.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.
In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.
The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.
Long hour working in Trafford decreased by 2.8 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Trafford, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Rise in rate of unemployment
The percentage of Trafford residents that were unemployed increased from 2.7% to 3.8% between the last two censuses.
In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55.9%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 55.3% in 2001. The percentage of Trafford residents that were self-employed increased from 8.0% to 9.7%.
The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.
The rate of unemployment in Trafford increased by 1.1 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Trafford, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Change in unpaid care provision
The percentage of Trafford residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.9% to 2.2% in the decade to 2011.
The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.1%.
The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.4% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.
The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Trafford remained close to 2.2%
Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Trafford by care, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Area report data
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